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By altering the chemical formation of quantum dots, researchers have found a way to produce such materials for electronic devices through a viable and low-cost method. The researchers used a lithography technique originally developed for honing nanoparticles. "You can effectively create little nanoscale reactors where you want them to be. You can control the location of where the reaction takes place, and you can precisely dial in the number of atoms that go into making the individual particle," said Chad A. Mirkin of Northwestern University.

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The chemical industry may benefit from the increased use of biomass as feedstock, especially if crude oil supplies become scarce, according to a study commissioned by the Heinrich Boll Foundation in Germany. This shift is needed to help European countries achieve stringent greenhouse-gas emission rules. "Without the chemical industry we will not be able to reach the EU target of reducing CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050," said Uwe Lahl, who wrote the study.

Eastman Chemical has agreed to buy specialty-chemicals-maker Solutia for $4.7 billion in cash, stock and debt. Since being spun off, landing in bankruptcy and emerging, Solutia's chemical portfolio has become a valuable global player, writes David Nicklaus. "There are a lot of commodity chemical companies out there trying to reach out and grab these specialty chemical assets. This allowed Eastman Chemical to acquire an asset with much higher profitability and global reach," says analyst Tom Leritz of Kennedy Capital Management.

The emergence of consumer nano-based products may pose environmental and public health threats if such materials are not studied, according to a National Academy of Sciences panel. "Despite the promise of nanotechnology, without strategic research into emergent risks associated with it -- and a clear understanding of how to manage and avoid potential risks -- the future of safe and sustainable nanotechnology-based materials, products, and processes is uncertain," the panel said.

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory received a three-year, $2.1 million grant from the Department of Energy to synthesize novel materials with high hydrogen adsorption capacities. The goal is to find out how to store hydrogen in a safe, cost-effective manner to build a high-powered hydrogen fuel cell. Berkeley researchers plan to use a metal-organic framework with a large surface area per volume to deliver more dense hydrogen storage.

By altering the chemical formation of quantum dots, researchers have found a way to produce such materials for electronic devices through a viable and low-cost method. The researchers used a lithography technique originally developed for honing nanoparticles. "You can effectively create little nanoscale reactors where you want them to be. You can control the location of where the reaction takes place, and you can precisely dial in the number of atoms that go into making the individual particle," said Chad A. Mirkin of Northwestern University.